Apparatus for simultaneously decorating both sides of a three dimensional article

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for decorating articles by, for instance, sereen printing, wherein at least one ring is used which is open at at least one side and whost inside diameter decreases from the opening; means are provided inside the ring to retain an article; the inside wall of the ring is formed with openings connected via a line to a vacuum source and an excess pressure source; and wherein a frame is provided which can be pivoted between two positions and has a resilient diaphragm, the diaphragm having a carrier for readily receiving and re-delivering color or ink, and in one position the frame closes the open side of the ring with the diaphragm and in the other position rests on a table above which a printing unit, for instance, a screen printing unit can be disposed.

ilnited States Patent [1 1 Gulikers APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY DECORATING BOTH SIDES OF A THREE DIMENSIONAL ARTICLE [75] Inventor: Josef Hubertus Gulikers,

Borgharen-Maastricht, Netherlands [73] Assignee: N.V. Koninklijke Sphinx-Ceramique v/h Petrus Regout, Maastricht, Netherlands [22] Filed: Dec. 17, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 99,103

[451 July 3,1973

696,017 10/1965 Italy ,.101/35 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey H Assistant Examiner-Clifford D. Crowder Attorney-Snyder and Butrum [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for decorating articles by, for instance, screen printing, wherein at least one ring is used which is open at at least one side and whost inside diameter decreases from the opening; means are provided inside the ring to retain an article; the inside wall of the ring is formed with openings connected via a line to a vacuum source and an excess pressure source; and wherein a frame is provided which can be pivoted between two positions and has a resilient diaphragm, the diaphragm having a carrier for readily receiving and re-delivering color or ink, and in one position the frame closes the open side of the ring with the diaphragm and in the other position rests on a table above which a printing unit, for instance, a screen printing unit can be disposed.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL 3 I973 SHEEI 2 OF 2.

INVENTOR k/m i F H11 (25/? m ATTORNEY The invention relates to an apparatus for decorating articles by, for instance, screen printing. It is an aim of the invention to provide an apparatus of the kind specified by means of which an article of any shape can be decorated. To this end according to the invention at least one ring is used which is open at at least one side and whose inside diameter decreases from the opening; means are provided inside the ring to retain an article; the inside wall of the ring is formed with openings connected via a line to a vacuum source and an excess pressure source; and a frame which can be pivoted between two positions and has a resilient diaphragm is provided, the diaphragm having a carrier for readily receiving and re-delivering color or ink, and in one position the frame closes the open side of the ring with the diaphragm and in the other position rests on a table above which a printing unit, for instance, a screen printing unit can be disposed. Color or ink can be applied to the diaphragm carrier by the screen printing unit. If, for instance, an earthenware article is placed in the ring and the frame with the diaphragm is pivoted in the direction of the ring, so that the diaphragm closes the space inside the ring, and a vacuum is then applied to such space, the diaphragm will bear against the article. In this way the color or ink on the carrier is applied to the article. The color or ink is satisfactorily transferred, even if the article has a complicated shape. When, after the application of color or ink, excess pressure is admitted into the space inside the ring, the diaphragm is readily released from the treated article.

According to one possible feature of the invention, at least two rings are used which bear against one another via their narrow sides; two pivotable diaphragms are used, each of which can co-operate with one of the two open sides of the set of rings; and the narrowest portion of the inside walls of the rings are formed with the openings connected to the vacuum source and the kind specified, the article can be completely surrounded by the two excess pressure source. In an apparatus of diaphragms, so that the article can be decorated on all sides in one operation. Due to the fact that the free cross-section of the ring decreases in diameter in the direction of its center, the diaphragms are advantageously loaded when they bear against the articles to be decorated.

According to another possible feature of the invention, each of the diaphragms is disposed on a drum which is open at one side and has means which can connect the drum space closed by a diaphragm to a vacuum source or an excess pressure source. When an excess pressure is applied to the drum, the diaphragm can bear against the article. The invention therefore obviates the use of means for applying a vacuum inside the rings. The openings in the inside walls of the rings can connect the space inside the rings to, for instance, atmospherc.

According to an advantageous possible embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the plane of the ring or rings is vertical; the pivoting axis of each frame with the diaphragm extends horizontally parallel with such surface; and each screen printing unit with screen and doctors can pivot around a vertical axis between a position in which the screen is disposed above a diaphragm lying on the table, and a position in which the screen is disposed adjacent the table. In this way the apparatus occupies very little space, while the screen can take place a in the advantageous horizontal position.

According to a possible feature of the invention two sets of rings are disposed .one beside the other which are attached, displaced at an angle of 180 in relation to one another, on a hub pivotable around a horizontal axis, so that the two sets of rings can alternately be brought into a position in which they can co-operate with the diaphragms pivoted upwards. With a construction of this kind, while an article is being decorated in one set of rings, an already decorated article can be removed from the other set of rings and replaced by an article still to be decorated, thus speeding up production.

An embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a section, taken along the line 11-, through a portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. I, and

FIG. 3 shows the portion illustrated in FIG. 2 with the moving members in a different position.

Two rings 1, 2, whose inner sides are frusto-conical in shape, are disposed with their narrow inner ends one beside the other. The rings are hollow, so that a hollow space 3 (ring 1) is formed inside each ring. The rings 1, 2, combined into one unit, are attached in a manner not indicated in detail to a hub 4 having journals 5, 6 borne in bearings 7, 8 respectively. On the sides of the journals 5, 6 diametrically opposite to the rings 1, 2, a hub 5 bears a second set of rings 9 constructed in a corresponding manner. A line 11 connected to the journal 6 is connected via a duct 10 extending through the journal 6 and the hub 4 to the inside 3 of the ring 1. Via an opening 12, the inside of the ring 1 communicates with the inside of the ring 2. A number of ducts l3, discharging into the narrowest portion of the space between the rings 1, 2, are connected to the insides thereof. The line 111 can be connected in a manner not shown in detail to a vacuum source or an excess pressure source. Moreover, a table-shaped insert 14, on which an earthenware article 15 can be placed, is disposed inside the rings 1, 2. Disposed diametrically opposite the insert 14 is a pneumatic cylinder 16 having a piston 17 which is acted upon by a spring 18 and has a piston rod 19 bearing a plunger 20. When compressed air is fed to the cylinder 16 via a line 21, the plunger 20 presses on the article 15 which is therefore retained rigidly. When the pressure in the cylinder 16 drops, the spring 18 forces the piston 17 and therefore the plunger 20 upwards, so that the article 15 is released and can be removed.

A shaft 24 is pivotably mounted in bearings 22, 23 attached to the apparatus frame. The shaft 24 has rigidly connected thereto an arm 25 with whose free end a piston rod 26 engages which is connected to a piston (not shown in detail) of a pneumatic cylinder 27 which can rotate the shaft 24 through Also attached to the shaft 24 is a frame 28 hearing a diaphragm 29 having a carrier which can readily receive a decoration and re-deliver it to an earthenware article to be decorated. In the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the diaphragm 29 is disposed above a vertically adjustable hollow table 30. The surface of the table 30 is formed with openings 31. The inside of the table 30 can be connected via its support 32 to a vacuum source. When this is done in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the diaphragm 29 is held tightly on the table 30. When the cylinder 27 is so actuated that the piston rod 26 is retracted, the frame 28 with the diaphragm 29 moves upwards, and the diaphragm is applied against the outside edge of the ring 1. As can be seen in FIG. 1 the apparatus is symmetrical. A corresponding frame 33 with a resilient diaphragm 34 is disposed on the left-hand side of FIG. 1. The frame 33 can also be moved upwards, when the diaphragm 34 bears against the outside edge of the ring 2, and into a position shown in FIG. 1, in which the diaphragm 34 lies on a table (not shown in detail). Moreover, a printing unit is used consisting of a frame 35 which can be rotated around an axis 36 via the agency of a lever 37 with which a piston rod 38 engages which can be actuated by a pneumatic cylinder 39. The frame 35 bears a frame 40 in which a screen 41 is attached. The frame 35 also bears a doctor device formed by a doctor holder 42 having doctors 43, 44. The doctor holder is pivotably attached to guide members 48 which can slide along guides 49. The doctor holder can be moved backwards and forwards along the guides 49 by a pneumatic cylinder 45 attached to the frame 35. The position of the doctor holder 42 can be adjusted by a cylinder 46. The doctor 43 or 44 can be caused to co-operate with the screen 41 by pivoting the doctor holder 42 into one position or the other. The printing unit can be pivoted by the cylinder 39 into the position shown in chain lines in FIG. 1. The places occupied by the various members are indicated by references followed by a prime index. FIG. 3 shows the position of the printing unit in solid lines; however, this position corresponds to that shown in chain lines in FIG. 1.

A similarly constructed printing unit 46, co-operating with diaphragm 34, is disposed at the other sides of the rings 1, 2. The apparatus operates as follows: an earthenware article to be decorated is placed on the insert 14 inside the rings 1, 2 and is rigidly retained by the plunger 20. The diaphragms 29, 34 are still in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Color is applied to the screen 41 and the doctor holder 42 is moved to the left by the cylinder 45, the doctor 44 distributing the color over the screen 41. At the end of the stroke of the doctor holder 42, the cylinder 46 tilts the holder 42, whereafter the cylinder 45 moves the holder backwards and the doctor 43 co-operates with the screen so that the diaphragm 29 lying on the table 30 receives the required decoration. When the doctor holder 42 with the doctors 43, 44 has reached the position shown in FIG. 2, the cylinder 39 pivots the printing unit into the position shown in chain lines in FIG. 1. The vacuum previously inside the hollow table 30 is removed, so that the diaphragm 29 is no longer rigidly retained. The shaft 24 is then pivoted by the cylinder 27 and applies the diaphragm 29 against the outside edge of the ring 1. The diaphragm 34 is given a decoration in a corresponding manner, and when the printing unit 46 has been pivoted aside, the diaphragm 34 is also pivoted upwards, so that it bears against the outside edge of the ring 2. The spaces 3 are then connected via the line 11 to a vacuum source. A vacuum is also sucked through the openings 13 into the space bounded by the diaphragms 29 and 34 and the rings 1, 2. The diaphragms 29, 34, with the decoration applied thereto, bear against the inside walls of the rings 1, 2 and against the article 15 to be decorated. After a predetermined time, which can be adjusted, the vacuum is removed and air at several atmospheres gauge is supplied via the line 11 so that the diaphragms 29, 34 are removed from the article 15, the decoration remaining thereon. The cylinders 27 then pivot the diaphragms 29, 34 downwards again, the diaphragm 29 coming to rest on the table 30. The printing units can again be pivoted above the diaphragms and a fresh decoration can be applied to the diaphragms 29, 34. The article 15 can then be removed from the rings 1, 2 and a fresh article to be decorated can be placed on the insert 14 and clamped rigidly by the plunger 20.

Since a second set of rings 9 is used, while an article 15 placed in the rings 1, 2 is being decorated, an already decorated article can be removed from the set of rings 9 and replaced by an article still to be decorated. To enable the correct pressure of the doctors 44, 43 on the screen 41 to be adjusted correctly, the doctor holder is vertically adjustable. The frame 40 can be hinged upwards around a hinge 47 to facilitate its cleaning. The location of the screen 41 in the frame 40 can also be adjusted in two directions, so that the decoration can be adjusted to the correct location of the screen. The result is that the decoration can always be applied at the right place on the article to be decorated. Clearly, articles of any shape can be decorated by the apparatus according to the invention.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for decorating three dimensional articles, comprising in combination:

support means for holding a three dimensional article to be decorated, said support means comprising a ring structure having frusto conical opposite side surfaces converging inwardly toward each other to define planar opposite side margins and a centrally open space;

means carried by said support means for positioning an article within said open space and in inwardly spaced relation to said opposite side margins;

a pair of resilient diaphragm means;

means for applying a pattern of decorating material to one side of each diaphragm means;

means for engaging said diaphragm means respectively against the opposite side margins of said support means with the patterned surfaces thereof facing each other; and

means for evacuating the interior of said support means to engage said patterned surfaces of said diaphragm means against the respective side surfaces of the support means and into intimate contact with said article so that the two diaphragm means together decorate the entire outer surface of the article.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for positioning an article projects radially inwardly from said ring structure to leave an open area substantially surrounding the positioned article within which area said diaphragm means engage in face-toface contact.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for pressurizing the interior of said support means to separate said diaphragm means.

4 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said ring structure comprises two hollow rings each of triangular shape in cross section; said means for evacuating being in communication with the interiors of said hollow rings and each ring having circumferentially spaced apertures around its inner apical edge.

5. Apparatus according -to claim 1 including a pair of tables disposed on opposite sides of said support means and lying in planes parallel to the axis of said ring structure; said means for engaging moving each diaphragm means between a position lying on an associated table and a position against the associated side margin of said support means; said means for applying being movable across each diaphragm means when lying on its associated table.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said ring structure is vertically disposed and said tables are horizontally disposed.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 including carrier means rotatably mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis laterally offset with respect to and above said tables; said support means being mounted on said carrier means on one side of such rotational axis; and a second support means mounted on said carrier on the other side of such rotational axis.

8. Apparatus according to claim ll wherein said support means is disposed vertically and said means for engaging moves each diaphragm means between a horizontal position below and to an associated side of the support means and an upwardly swung position engaging the support means.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said means for applying engages said diaphragm means while they are in their horizontal positions.

10. Apparatus for decorating three dimensional articles, comprising in combination:

a ring presenting an outer marginal edge and an inner marginal edge with a frusto conical wall surface extending inwardly from said outer to said inner marginal edge; 7

a pair of diametrically opposed positioning members projecting inwardly from said inner marginal edge and having spaced apart portions engaging respectively the top and bottom of an article to be decorated whereby substantially one half of the outer side surface of the article lies between the plane containing said inner marginal edge and the plane containing said outer marginal edge of the ring;

resilient diaphragm means for'engaging said outer marginal edge with one surface thereof facing the article;

means for applying a pattern of decorating material to said one surface of said diaphragm means;

means cooperating with said diaphragm means when engaged with said ring to form an isolated space bounded on one side by said one surface of the diaphragm means; and

means for evacuating said space to force said diaphragm means marginally against said conical wall surface of the ring and against said positioning members into intimate contact with said half of the outer side surface of the article. 

1. Apparatus for decorating three dimensional articles, comprising in combination: support means for holding a three dimensional article to be decorated, said support means comprising a ring structure having frusto conical opposite side surfaces converging inwardly toward each other to define planar opposite side margins and a centrally open space; means carried by said support means for positioning an article within said open space and in inwardly spaced relation to said opposite side margins; a pair of resilient diaphragm means; means for applying a pattern of decorating material to one side of each diaphragm means; means for engaging said diaphragm means respectively against the opposite side margins of said support means with the patterned surfaces thereof facing each other; and means for evacuating the interior of said support means to engage said patterned surfaces of said diaphragm means against the respective side surfaces of the support means and into intimate contact with said article so that the two diaphragm means together decorate the entire outer surface of the article.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for positioning an article projects radially inwardly from said ring structure to leave an open area substantially surrounding the positioned article within which area said diaphragm means engage in face-to-face contact.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for pressurizing the interior of said support means to separate said diaphragm means.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said ring structure comprises two hollow rings each of triangular shape in cross section; said means for evacuating being in communication with the interiors of said hollow rings and each ring having circumferentially spaced apertures around its inner apical edge.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a pair of tables disposed on opposite sides of said support means and lying in planes parallel to the axis of said ring structure; said means for engaging moving each diaphragm means between a position lying on an associated table and a position against the associated side margin of said support means; said means for applying being movable across each diaphragm means when lying on its associated table.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said ring structure is vertically disposed and said tables are horizontally disposed.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 including Carrier means rotatably mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis laterally offset with respect to and above said tables; said support means being mounted on said carrier means on one side of such rotational axis; and a second support means mounted on said carrier on the other side of such rotational axis.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support means is disposed vertically and said means for engaging moves each diaphragm means between a horizontal position below and to an associated side of the support means and an upwardly swung position engaging the support means.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said means for applying engages said diaphragm means while they are in their horizontal positions.
 10. Apparatus for decorating three dimensional articles, comprising in combination: a ring presenting an outer marginal edge and an inner marginal edge with a frusto conical wall surface extending inwardly from said outer to said inner marginal edge; a pair of diametrically opposed positioning members projecting inwardly from said inner marginal edge and having spaced apart portions engaging respectively the top and bottom of an article to be decorated whereby substantially one half of the outer side surface of the article lies between the plane containing said inner marginal edge and the plane containing said outer marginal edge of the ring; resilient diaphragm means for engaging said outer marginal edge with one surface thereof facing the article; means for applying a pattern of decorating material to said one surface of said diaphragm means; means cooperating with said diaphragm means when engaged with said ring to form an isolated space bounded on one side by said one surface of the diaphragm means; and means for evacuating said space to force said diaphragm means marginally against said conical wall surface of the ring and against said positioning members into intimate contact with said half of the outer side surface of the article. 